I won't say that a Helinox chair won't or can't fail, but if it does, I'll probably get a new chair out of them. This Youtube vid shows what I imagine happening to me if I spend less money on a copycat.

Good post - cheap is exactly that - CHEAP!

I do not mind saving money on gear when good gear is on sale. Also, I do not mind using cheap gear if I do not plan to come close to stressing that gear to the limits of its ability to serve. Example: A cheap knife used once or twice during the trip to cut lines. Most items are of good to high quality and paid for accordingly.

I have four of thous cheaper chairs and have never had a problem, only the one that fell on to my coffee can stove and burned the material and that was my fault on a windy winter night.

I got a cheap copy cat and I understand the risks, but with 2 kids at home in diapers and my income it would just be stupid to spend anywhere near $100 on a chair when the $25 knockoff works well enough and I can't tell the difference. If it fail then it fails, its a piece of luxury equipment anyways, its not essential. Maybe when the kids are older and I don't need as much gear every year I'll get a better one but for now the knockoffs are a financially sound alternative.

Hopefully this comment won't offend anyone but as a "big" guy myself, I'm going to put it out there...if you're a fairly large person, cheap chairs aren't for us. It's pretty simple. There's a reason the "better" chairs cost more. While I don't know what the weight limit is for the chair that failed in the video link, my guess is the gentleman who used it was at, or near, the chair's weight limit. If I'm close to a weight limit, I won't use the product. I don't need something failing while I'm in it regardless of where it occurs.

Just my thoughts. Take them for what they're worth.

Until next time...be well.

snapper

quote paddler1953: "Hopefully this comment won't offend anyone but as a "big" guy myself, I'm going to put it out there...if you're a fairly large person, cheap chairs aren't for us. It's pretty simple. There's a reason the "better" chairs cost more. While I don't know what the weight limit is for the chair that failed in the video link, my guess is the gentleman who used it was at, or near, the chair's weight limit. If I'm close to a weight limit, I won't use the product. I don't need something failing while I'm in it regardless of where it occurs.


Just my thoughts. Take them for what they're worth.


Until next time...be well.


snapper"

That's a good point. I'm not that big a guy so I don't weigh a lot. Maybe I just don't run into the same issues that someone built larger than I am would.

I second the big guy vote. I have had good luck with the Byer of Maine folding chair.

Well I think everyone is right :)

You definitely get what ya pay for, I researched chairs the last few months and the knockoffs weigh more and have a lower safe weight. To me that is a big deal. Quotes like "they weigh close to the same" isn't good enough for me because often they are a 1/2 pound heavier or more. I am shaving ounces and pounds from all gear.

On the flip side if you aren't close to the chairs weight limit and the weight of the chair doesn't bother you why would ya spend the extra money for a better chair?

T